Bruins dominate inside, outside

STOCKTON - Ashlyn Jones matched a career-high 25 points and Sopanha Mao made six 3-pointers to lead the Bear Creek girls basketball team to a decisive 65-44 home victory over Tokay on Tuesday night.

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By Kevin Niendorf

recordnet.com

By Kevin Niendorf

Posted Dec. 5, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By Kevin Niendorf
Posted Dec. 5, 2012 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

STOCKTON - Ashlyn Jones matched a career-high 25 points and Sopanha Mao made six 3-pointers to lead the Bear Creek girls basketball team to a decisive 65-44 home victory over Tokay on Tuesday night.

With Jones, a junior forward, dominating in the paint and Mao scoring 22 points from the outside, the Bruins spread the Tokay defense. The duo combined for 47 points.

The Tigers (1-5) were led by Darcie Castelanelli's 12 points, but they committed 28 turnovers and shot 28 percent.

Coach Jason Lowrey said his Bruins (3-1) have to do a better job of rotating to the ball on offense, but having hard-working players like Mao and Jones is critical to his team's success.

"(Jones) has looked great since the first day of tryouts," Lowrey said. "I'm not ready to say she's a weapon yet, but she's getting better every day."

Jones had five points during a 12-2 run to open the game, and by halftime she had recorded 19 points, three steals, six rebounds and two blocks. With the help of 18 Tokay turnovers, the Bruins led 42-28 at the break.

"I was more aggressive than I've usually been, and that played a big part," said Jones, who sat out the final quarter. "It's a big weight (to be a go-to player), but it's manageable."

Tokay again was without three-year starter Kylie Henne, who injured her shoulder Friday in a game against Livermore. But coach Jen Bauer said the Tigers have to play smarter no matter who's on the floor.

"When we stop thinking, we're in the wrong position and the fundamentals go out the window," Bauer said. "Turnovers are a big problem, and it hurts with Kylie not out there. But we have to make better decisions with the ball and play better defense."

In the third quarter, the Bruins outscored the Tigers 17-6 and finished the game by shooting 43 percent from the field. Mao was 6 of 14 from beyond the arc.